My Wonderful PR Friend ************ John Blanchette has passed away

[Ann Dandridge Public Relations]

 

Hollywood Publicist John Blanchette Dies at 68

5:28 PM PDT 3/10/2014 by Mike Barnes

THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER

His clients included Bob Hope, Cary Grant, Debbie Reynolds, the Hollywood Wax Museum and, for the past three decades, Zsa Zsa Gabor.

John Blanchette, a veteran Hollywood publicist whose clients included Bob Hope, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jane Fonda and, in sickness and in health, Zsa Zsa Gabor, has died. He was 68.

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Blanchette died Tuesday, March 4, 2014 at UCLA Medical Center in Santa Monica after a brief battle with myelodysplastic syndrome, a form of leukemia, the Santa Monica Mirror reported.

Blanchette served as Gabor’s publicist for some 30 years. In 2011, he kept the media informed when the socialite was rushed to the hospital with high-blood pressure after she learned of the death of Elizabeth Taylor, her friend and neighbor. Later that year and in 2012, she broke her hip in a fall, had hip replacement surgery and had her right leg amputated.  Gabor turned 97 on Feb. 6.

Blanchette also was known for creating major media events for the Hollywood Wax Museum. He once convinced authorities to rope off Hollywood Boulevard so that the Rockettes could set a world record for the longest kick line.

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He also prompted headlines in 1997 when, shortly after Mike Tyson bit the ear of Evander Holyfield during a prizefight, the museum moved a wax figure of the boxer from its Sports Hall of Fame exhibit into its Chamber of Horrors, right next to Hannibal Lecter.

Blanchette’s clients also included Cary Grant, Zsa Zsa's sister Eva Gabor, Debbie Reynolds, James Earl Jones, Shirley MacLaine, David Hasselhoff, Delta Burke and Gerald McRaney, Valerie Harper, Michael Jackson, Hugh Hefner, Josh Hartnett, Doris Roberts, Ned Beatty, Bryan Cranston, Halle Berry, Charles Porter and figure skaters Randy Gardner and Tai Babilonia.

He represented the Caucus for Producers, Writers and Directors and the Sci-Fi Awards and helped promote such films as Il Postino (1994), Shine (1996), L.A. Confidential (1997), Halloween H2O (1998), Argo (2012) and Behind the Candelabra (2013).

Based in Santa Monica, Blanchette also had a career as a travel writer.

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[Ann Dandridge Public Relations]

John Blanchette, Publicist, Travel Writer and TV Producer, Dies at 68

March 10, 2014 | 05:47PM PT

Variety Staff

 

 

 

John M. (Jack) Blanchette Jr., the publicist for Zsa Zsa Gabor for 30 years, died Tuesday, March 4, at UCLA Medical Center in Santa Monica, after a brief battle with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), a form of Leukemia. He was 68.

Blanchette was the president and owner of Blanchette & Associates Public Relations in Santa Monica. He had worked in entertainment and corporate publicity for more than three decades, and for the past 15 years, he had also written travel, wine and food features for Copley and Creators news syndicates.

In addition to Gabor, Blanchette worked with Ned Beatty, Delta Burke, Cary Grant, Valerie Harper, Bob Hope, Michael Jackson and Debbie Reynolds, among others. He represented the Caucus for Producers, Writers & Directors and promoted films including “Argo,” “Behind the Candelabra,” “Il Postino,” and “L.A. Confidential.” He also did stints in the publicity offices of Fox TV, KCBS and New World Pictures.

His charitable work included the Actors Fund.

Blanchette began his career as an editor at Harvard University Press. He moved to San Francisco and edited the Sierra Club Bulletin for three years before moving to Los Angeles to work in the entertainment industry. He spent six years at Boston College, earning a master’s in English literature; he also earned a masters in Anglo-Irish Studies at University/Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland, and a degree in college administration from Indiana University.

Survivors include six brothers and two sisters.

 

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In loving memory... John Blanchette February 26, 1946 ~ March 4, 2014.

 

[Ann Dandridge Public Relations]

Courtesy Photo

John Blanchette, a publicist for Zsa Zsa Gabor for more than 30 years, died Tuesday at UCLA Medical Center in Santa Monica.

News, Obituary, Santa Monica

Santa Monica Publicist John Blanchette Dies Aged 68

Courtesy photo

A celebration of John Blanchette's life will be announced soon.

Posted Mar. 8, 2014, 8:03 am

Brenton Garen / Editor-in-Chief

John M. (Jack) Blanchette Jr. -- president and owner of Blanchette & Associates Public Relations in Santa Monica -- died Tuesday, March 4. He was 68.

Blanchette a long-time Santa Monica resident who was born in Sudbury, Mass., passed away at UCLA Medical Center in Santa Monica after a brief battle with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), a form of Leukemia.

Blanchette had worked in the field of entertainment and corporate publicity for more than three decades.

For the past 15 years he had also wrote travel, wine, and food features for Copley and Creators news syndicates.

Blanchette was the publicist for Zsa Zsa Gabor (30 years, longer than nine husbands), and he also worked with Ned Beatty, Delta Burke, Cary Grant, Valerie Harper, Bob Hope, Michael Jackson, Debbie Reynolds and many other celebrities.

He has represented the Caucus for Producers, Writers & Directors, American Institute of Wine & Food, annual Sci-Fi Awards and Southern California’s Home Remodeling and Decorating shows.

Film promotions include “Argo,” “Behind the Candelabra,” “Il Postino,” and “L.A. Confidential,” along with stints in the publicity offices of FOX TV, KCBS and New World Pictures. His charitable work included the Actors Fund, ChildHelp, Make a Wish Foundation, Love is Feeding Everyone, Leukemia Foundation, and StepUp on Second.

He was co-producing a television special on Napa Valley’s wine country hosted by Jean-Charles Boisset and Gina Gallo.

Blanchette began his career as an editor at Harvard University Press. He moved to San Francisco and edited the Sierra Club Bulletin for three years, before moving to Los Angeles to work in the entertainment industry.

Blanchette was a very kind and generous person with an outgoing personality. He loved meeting new people and drumming up a conversation with them on just about any subject. He was a commuting student to Boston College from Sudbury, Mass., for two years, in his red 1962 model 122 round-top Volvo.

He spent six years at Boston College, earning a master’s in English Literature, which led to a rather lengthy habit with academia, culminating with a masters in Anglo-Irish Studies at University/Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland, and a degree in college administration from Indiana University.

His family frequently referred to him as “The Professional Student.”

Blanchette is the son of the earlier deceased Margaret and WWII Navy Flyer John Mark Sr. He leaves brother David H. of West Dennis, Thomas R. of Marthas Vinyard, Stephen J. of Sudbury, Donald R., of Rockport, Janet M., of Vancouver, Mary E. of Milton. Richard J. of Boynton Beach, Fla., and Christopher A. of Sudbury.

He also leaves 10 nieces and three nephews, brothers-in-law Dennis and James, and sisters-in-law Anne, Sheila, and Mary.

A celebration of his life will be announced soon.

Click here  http://www.smmirror.com/articles/News/Santa-Monica-Publicist-John-Blanchette-Dies-Aged-68/39695